Roller mount for sliding doors



2 Sheets-Sheet 1A E. J. G. PHILLIPS ROLLER MOUNT FOR SLIDING DOORS Filed NOV. 22, `1930 April 24, 1934.

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l A w@ 'Iliff mi! April 24, 1934- E. J. G. PHILLIPS ROLLER MOUNT FOR SLIDING DOORS Filed NOV. 22. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 24, 1934 ROLLER MOUNT FR SLIDING DOORS Ellis J. G. Phillips, Aurora, lll., assigner to Richards-Wilcox Manufacturing Company, Aurora, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application November 22, 1930, Serial No. 497,444

2 Claims.

This invention relates to sliding doors of the type wherein one or more individual sections or panels are adapted to close a door opening such sections or panels being mounted for independj ent sliding movement in guides to and from closed posed perpendicularly with respect to the door opening, The door panels or sections are generally supported at their lower corners on a track, such track being preferably curved at the ends of the door opening to guide the panels or sections in the path just described.

, so that when folded, the several leaves are side by side and substantially at right angles to the position they assume when unfolded or closed, Folding doors of this type may be made up of two or more leaves at one side only of a door opening, or where the door opening is quite wide, it is common to make the door as a whole in two units each made up of a plurality of leaves hinged together, the two units being mounted at opposite sides of the door opening so that when the leaves are unfolded they meet at the center of the opening or at some intermediate point.

In folding doors of this character, it is customary to support the outer leaf or leaves with the exception of the leaves at the ends of the door opening, on the floor or other support that forms the bottom of the door opening, and to employ top guides for the leaves in the form of rollers arranged to travel longitudinally of the opening as the door is folded cr unfolded.

With the above in view, this invention relates to an improved roller mount positioned along the bottoni edges of the leaves normally supporting the weights of the leaves, particularly for relatively large doors such as are employed for closing the doorways of aeroplane hangars, relatively wide door openings for garages, etc.

Doors employed in such cases are generally rather heavy and it is therefore desirable that the mount employed be `quite substantial, du-

rable and rugged. To this end,.l haverprovided (Cl. 1li- 100) a wheel mount comprising a substantial frame, such frame being supported in the door adjacent the lower inner corner thereof in spaced relation from the lower edge of the door. This mount or frame is provided with a vertically disposed swivel housing in which a swivel or pintle is antifrictionally swiveled, the lower end of such pintle being xedly associated with a caster wheel frame. To provide for vertical adjustability of the door leaf with which the mount is associated, the journal housing has associated therewith a suitable adjusting means having associated therewith at its lower end, a suitable thrust antifriction means for supporting. the weight of the leaf. The caster wheel frame is normally disposed below the mount or supporting frame and since in the cases of both sliding or folding doors, above outlined, the leaves assume angular positions with respect to a guide means such as a rail, disposed in the floor of the doorway and in the plane thereof, the caster wheel will have swiveling movement relative to the leaf with which it is associated, inthe folding or unfolding, or sliding movements of the door, as the case may be. Due to vertical adjustrnent of the caster wheel frame with respect to the main frame or supporting frame, thespace between the former and latter frames may beA quite substantial. In that event, when both frames are in the same plane, the opening between them will admit a substantial amount of air from the outside of the inclosure and will thusbe a contributing factor to the causing of drafts through the enclosure. This is quite undesirable, and to obviate such a condition, the present invention includes as one of its important features, the provision of a novel weather stripping means which will automatically adjust itself to all adjustments of the wheel frame with respect to its supporting franca-thus effectively sealing the space between these frames when they are in the same plane with the doors in closed position. Again, when the caster wheel frame swings out of the plane of the supporting frame and door leaf, sufficient clearance must be provided for the vertical ends of the caster wheel frame. Such clearance is also a contributing factor to drafts, and another feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel weather stripping means associated-for cooperation between the caster frame and the corresponding edges of the leaf opening in whichy the caster frame oscillates in the opening and closing movements of the door.

A further feature of importance in the present invention resides in the provision of a substantial swivel support providing for vertical adjustment of the caster frame with respect to the supporting frame and the provision of lateral and vertical thrust antifriction means for such support.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of means in the caster wheel frame for locking the caster wheel against rotation from the inner side of the door when the latter is in closed position thus preventing accidental opening of the door or intentional opening by persons on the outer side thereof by increasing the friction between the caster wheel and its associated support or track to a maximum.

Other and further features and advantages will appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary inner side elevation of the lower portion of a leaf of a door showing the wheel mount of the present invention in applied position when the door is in closed position, parts of the associated parts being broken away;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the mount taken substantially along the line 2 2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section taken substantially along the line 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section taken substantially along the line 4 4 of Figure 1;

Figure 4A is a sectional view similar to that shown in Figure 4 showing a caster wheel frame and an adjacent portion of a hollow metallic door illustrating a modified form of weather stripping means adapted to cooperate with such frame at its ends;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a mcdied embodiment illustrating improved side plates for the supporting frame and a modified form of weather stripping means between the supporting frame and caster wheel frame;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6 6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a plane view of the modied form of weather stripping means shown in Figures 5 and 6;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of such weather stripping means;

Figure 9 illustrates an end view of the modified form of weather stripping means; and

Figure l0 is a fragmentary section showing modied side plates for the supporting frame when the wheel mount is employed with metallic doors of thinner transverse dimension.

In the drawings, in Figure 1, the wheel mount is shown as applied to a door leaf 11 adjacent the lower edge thereof preferably near the inner lower corner thereof as viewed from the inner side of the door in a suitable recess or opening 12 provided therein. In the upper end of such opening 12 there is mounted a supporting frame generally indicated at 13 comprising a pair of horizon-- tally disposed intermediate reinforced cross members 14 and a pair of spaced upper members 15. The upper cross member 14 is suitably reinforced by a pair of vertically extending pillar members 16 connecting it with the inner ends of upper members 15. The frame 13 is suitably secured to the side edges of the opening in the leaf by means of screws or bolts 17. Formed integrally with the cross members 14 and centrally thereof, is a swivel housing 18 in which a pintle is suitably swiveled for rotation in a manner to be hereinafter described.

A pintle 19 extends upwardly and axially into the swivel housing 18 and is xedly secured to a caster fra-me 21 by means of a suitable rivet 22 at the lower end thereof. Pintle 19 comprises an enlarged intermediate portion 23 formed with a reduced portion 24 at its lower end, such reduced portion passing into a boss 25 extending upwardly from the caster frame 2l, and providing a shoulder 27 engaging the upper end or" said boss. The lower end of the swivel housing 18 is provided with an inwardly directed annular ange 26 providing a seat for a roller bearing 28 embracing the enlarged portion 23 of the pintle 19 and having one end thereof resting in the seat. Bearing 28 provides for antifrictional swlveling move- .ment of the pintle 19. At its upper end the pintle is provided with a reduced portion 29 forming an annular upwardly facing shoulder 31 upon which a suitable thrust antifriction roller bearing 32 is received. A suitable set screw 33 extending through the wall of the swivel housing 18 and radially inwardly beyond the inner periphery thereof above the roller bearing 28, prevents vertical displacement of such roller bearing. An adjusting collar 34 provided with external peripheral threads threaded engagement with an internal thereaded peripheral portion adjacent the upper end of the swivel housing 18, the upper end of collar 34 being provided with an upwardly extending reduced portion 35. The eX- treme upper end of pintle 19 is formed with a further reduced threaded portion 36 providing an annular shoulder upon which a washer 37 is seated, the Washer being retained in engagement with such shoulder and extension 35 by a suitable nut 38 having threaded engagement with the reduced portion 36. A suitable greasing fitting 39 seated in the upper end of the pintle 19 and has its bore communicating with an axial lubricating passage 41 connecting with a radial passage 42 extending outwardly to the outer periphery of the reduced portion 29 for conducting lubricant to the thrust bearing 32 through which grease may pass to the swivel bearing 28 within the swivel housing 18. A lock nut 43 is threaded upon the outer threaded periphery of the collar 34 and engages the upper end of the swivel housing 18 to lock the collar against accidental displacement. Extension 35 has a polygonally shaped outer periphery for the reception thereon of a suitable tool for rotation of the collar 34.

Frame 13 is provided adjacent its upper and lower ends with inwardly extending lugs or projections 44, provided with suitable th"eaded openings. A pair of cover plates 45 and 46, the former the outer cover plate and the latter, the inner cover plate, are suitably secured against the lateral sides or" the frame 13 by suitable bolts such as 4'? cooperating with the threaded openings in the lugs'or extensions 44. Inner cover plate 46, is provided with an opening 48 opposite the greasing nipple 39 to permit of ready access to such nipple of a grease gun nose or tip.V

1t will be noted that the lower end of the swivel housing 18 is reduced, providing a space between the lateral sides thereof and the cover plates 45 and 46, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The caster wheel frame 21 comprises an inverted substantially U-shaped frame 51 provided with a plurality of inwardly extending lugs or projections 52 having transversely extending threaded holes therein. A pair of frame plates or a lll-5 yat side members 53 and 54 are-suitably secured to the sides of the frame 51 by means of bolts such as 55, plate 53 constituting the outer side member and plate 54 the inner side member.

Upward movement of the frame 21 and pintle 19, is limited by the boss 25, while downward movement of such frame with respect to the swivel housing 18 is controlled by the rotation of the collar 34. lt will be noted that the upper side of the frame 21 will therefore be always disposed in spaced relation below the lower cross member 14 of the frame 13 to accommodate swiveling movement of the frame 21 with respect to the supporting frame 13. Likewise, the lower edges or" the plates and 46 are limited in dov/'nward extent by the maximum elevated position of the frame 21 with respect to the supporting frame 13. To effectively seal this space against the admission of outside air into the enclosure with which the door is associated, a novel weather stripping means has been provided. This weather stripping means comprises a plate 56 of substantially U-shaped configuration provided at the intermediate portion and centrally thereof with a suitable opening 57 large enough to accommodate the widest portion of the boss 25. Plate 56 is seated with its intermediate portion on the upper side of the frame 21, the side portions 58 thereof extending upwardly along the inner sides of the side plates 45 and 46 and into the spaces etween the inner si of such plates and the reduced portion of swivel housing 18. The weather stripping plate 56 may freely rest upon the frame 21 or may be suitably supported for sliding movement on the inner sides or" plates 45 and 46. It will. be readily apparent that plate 56` will be normally gravity urged downwardly for engagement with the Lipper side of the frame 21. When the pmtle 19 is adjusted vertically, frame 21 will control the position of the plate 56. Thus, the plate 56 will readily accommodate itself to vertical movements of the frame 21 and will effectively seal the space between the upper side of frame 21 and the lower cross member 14 of the frame 13 in cooperation with the side plates 45 and 46.

inasmuch as the frame 21 rotates with respect to the frame 13 and the leaf 11 so that in opening and closing movements of the door, it assumes angular positions approaching a right angle position with respect to the leaf 11, ample clearance is provided between the side ends of the frame 21 and the adjacent edges of the opening in the leaf 11. To effectively seal the spaces provided by such clearance when the frame 21 is in the i' plane of the leaf 1l, I have provided additional weather stripping means 59. Since such means are substantial duplicates of each other, a description of one of them will suice. Weather stripping means 59 comprises a iiexible strip of material such as rubber bowed into substantially U-shaped configuration and having its side or leg portions in abutment with the outer sides of the plates 53 and 54 adjacent the side edges thereof. A rigid strip of metal 61 suitably secured to the side plates 53 and 54 by means of 67 and an intermediate web 68 connecting the peripheral portion thereof with a hub portion 69, is disposed between the frame plates 53 and 54. The peripheral groove 67 is adapted to ride over a suitably provided supporting rail 71 suitably embedded in a concrete threshold 72 over which the lower door edge extends in closed position. Plates 53 and 54 are provided substantially centrally thereof with inwardly directed bosses 73 and 74 respectively, the former being provided with a threaded bore 75 and the latter with an aligned unthreaded bore 76. A headed pin or axle 77, the head 78 of which is provided with slabbed off portions 79 for the accommodation of a suitable operating wrench, passes through the bore 76 and has its threaded end engaging the threaded bore 75. A suitable lock screw 81 retains the bolt or axle 77 from rotation. Hub 69 of the wheel 66 is provided with an axial bore 82 in which is seated the outer race 83 of a ball bearing 84 the inner opposed races 85 of which are carried by the pin or axle 77 with the outer ends thereof in engagement with the bosses 73 and 74. It will be readily apparent, that rotation of the pin or axle 77 to draw the plates 53 and 54 toward each other will take up any play in the ball bearing 84.

Bolt or axle 77 is provided with an axial bore 86 extending outwardly from the inner end of such axle, and a pair of radially disposed connecting bores 87 provide communicating passages from the bore 86 to the space between the inner races 85 of the ball bearing 84 and the inner periphery of the outer race 83. A suitable greasing nipple 88 is threaded into the exposed end of the bore 86 for receiving the nozzle or tip of a grease gun for transmitting a suitable lubricant to the ball bearing 84. A pair of suitable felt or leather sealing washers 89 are clamped between the ends of the outer race 83 of the ball bearing 84 and the inner ends of the bosses 73 and 74 to prevent the escape of lubricant from the ball bearing.

Outer plate 53 extends downwardly appreciably further than inner plate 54 as indicated at 91, the lower edge being in close proximity to the threshold upper surface to prevent access of dust and dirt to the wheel and about it into the enclosure when the door is in closed position.

To restrain accidental or unauthorized movement of the door by a person on the outer side thereof, a lock means is provided to restrain rotation of the wheel 66, such means being operable from the inner side of the door. Plate 54 is provided with an inwardly extending boss 92 provided withran internally threaded bore 93 disposed opposite the web 68 of the wheel 66, An internally threaded bushing 94 has threaded engagement with the threaded bore 93 and carries therein a rotatable bolt 95 having an enlarged head 96, the end of which is adapted to engage the inner side of the web 68. Bushing 94 is locked against accidental displacement by a dowel screw 93 thus preventing passage outwardly of the head 96 of bolt 95. Bolt 95 is provided with a reduced threaded intermediate portion 97 having engagement with the bushing 94 whereby.

rotation of the bolt 95 will advance or retract the bolt head 96 to or from engagement with the web 68. Bolt 95 has a further reduced end 98 upon which is mounted a suitable T-shaped handle 99 suitably connected to such reduced end 98 by means of a pin 101. In assembling the bolt 95 with the plate 54, it will be readily apparent that the bushing 94 is first threaded onto the convex face of frame 21.

threaded portion 97 of the bolt and then threaded into the bore 93. It is to be noted that the head 96 of the bolt 95 is considerably larger than the web openings and does not cooperate with such openings. The head 96 is merely adapted to frictionally engage the inner side of the web 68 for the reason that the web holes will not always be in alignment with the bolt when it is desired to lock the wheel 68 with the door in closed position. It will be noted that this locking mechanism does not interfere with the relative pivotal movement between the door and the caster wheel frame in the normal operation of the door, no matter what position the handle 99 is in.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 11A, I have illustrated a modified form of weather stripping means adapted to provide a sealing effect for the vertical ends of the caster wheel frame. In this case, the caster wheel frame 2l comprises similar elements as the embodiment disclosed in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, with the exception that the vertical leg portions of the frame 51 have their outer faces of convex configuration as indicated at 105. The leaf 11 in `I 'igure 4A has been indicated as being of metallic tubular formation although it will be readily apparent that it may be of wood as shown in Figure 1. Secured to the opposite faces of leaf 11 adjacent the web portion 106 thereof, such Vlweb deiining one side edge of the opening in which the wheel mount is adapted to be seated, are a pair of metallic strips 107 extending beyond the web portion 106 into the space dened by the outer face of web portion 106 and the outer Plates 107 are provided with inwardly directed flanges 108, such flanges defining a concavity adapted to cooperate with convex surface 105 of frame 2l. Preferably, plates 107 are of sheet metal providing 'for cooperative wiping action between the iianges 108 and the convex face 105. Such plates 107 are preferably secured to leaf 1l by means of suitable bolts 109 adapted to take into threaded openings provided in leaf l1 through elongated "slots 111 in plates 107 whereby plates 107 may be adjusted with respect to the caster wheel frame 21. It will be noted that the convexity of surface 105 and concavity of portions 108 of plates 107 are complementary, the radius of curvature of surface 105 being such as to permit free and ready cooperation between surface 105 and portions 108 of plates 107 in the course of swinging movements of the caster wheel frame 21.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 5 and 6, I have illustrated a. modified form of wheel mount arrangement wherein the modification primarily resides in the provision oil novel side plates for the mount supporting frame and modified form of weather stripping means between the caster wheel frame and the mount supporting frame which is adapted to insure of more efficient weather stripping effect between the upper side of the caster wheel frame and the weather stripping means. Such modified form of mount has been in the present instance shown as applied to a hollow metal leaf 121 although it will be readily apparent that the same may be applied to a wood leaf such as is disclosed in Figure l. The structure of the mount supporting frame is similar in all respects to the embodiment disclosed in Figures l and 2, and similar parts are indicated in Figures 5 and 6 by like primed reference characters for ready identification with like parts in the embodiment disclosed in Figures 1 and 2, with the exception that in the present instance, the caster wheel frame 21 is shown as having its sides formed integrally with the upper and vertical end portions. Also, the mounting frame 13 is slightly modified, such modification comprising the provision of outwardly extending securing lugs 122. The leaf 121 has been shown in the present instance as being slightly thicker in transverse dimension than the caster Wheel mount. Side plates 123 and 124 comprise one piece sheet metal plates provided with intermediate depressed portions 125 and 126, respectively, providing edge flanges 127 and 128, respectively, which are adapted to overlap the opening defining edges of leaf 121, such plates 123 and 124 being suitably secured to the supporting frame 13 by means of suitable bolts 129 taking into threaded bores in lugs 122. By the provision of the overlapping flanges 127 and 128, a more efficient sealing effect for the abutting portions of the supporting frame 13 and the edges of the opening wherein such frame is seated, is provided.

In conjunction with the embodiment disclosed in Figures 5 and 6, I have provided a modified form of weather stripping means adapted to be interposed between the upper side of the caster wheel frame 21 and the supporting frame (Figures 7, 8 and 9) Such weather stripping means comprises a substantially U-shaped plate 131 having upwardly extending leg portions 132, the ends of which are turned inwardly at 133 to act as reinforcing or stiffening means for the leg portions 132. The web 134 is provided substantially centrally thereof with a perforation or aperture 135 adapted to freely take over boss 25 of caster wheel frame 21 whereby the underside of the web 134 may rest upon the upper or outer face of the upper end of caster wheel frame 21. Web 134 is further provided with a longitudinally extending upwardly offset portion 136 extending the entire length of weather stripping means 131, the concave portion of such offset portion 136 being adapted to span a pair of aligned upwardly extending ribs 137 (Figures 5 and 6) provided on the upper side of the upper end of caster wheel frame 21. It is to be noted that the sides of the concavity of offset 136 and the sides of ribs 137 slope in the same direction for a purpose to be hereinafter described. As will be readily seen from Figure 6, the leg portions 132 of weather stripping means 131 are adapted to extend upwardly in the spaces defined bythe inner faces of side plates 123 and 124 and the adjacent outei' sides of the supporting frame 13. As in the case of the embodiment disclosed in Figures 1 and 2, vertical adjustment of the caster pintle with respect to the supporting frame 13 will automatically elevate or lower weather stripping means 131 so that such weather stripping means readily llll accommodates itself for the various adjustments l of the caster wheel frame with respect to the supporting frame 13.

Since caster wheel frame 21' is adapted in sliding movements of leaf 121 to have swinging movement out of the plane of the supporting 'i frame 13', as such movement takes place, ribs 137 will elevate weather stripping means 131 slightly by the cooperation of the sloping surfaces of the ribs with the cooperating surfaces of the offset 136. Upon return of caster wheel frame 21 to coplanar disposition with respect to supporting frame 13 and leaf 121, ribs 137 and offset 136 will resume aligned position, and upon such alignment, weather stripping means 131 will gravitate to the position thereof illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. It will be readily apparent that ribs 137 and offset 136 will so cooperate as to reduce the possibility of drafts gaining access into the enclosure between the underside of web portion 134 and the upper side of the upper end of caster wheel frame 21 to a minimum.

In Figure 10, I have fragmentarily illustrated modified side plates for leaves of smaller transverse dimension than the wheel mount. r In the present instance, leaf 141 is of the hollow metallic type, although it will be readily apparent that such leaf may be of wood as in the case of the embodiment disclosed in Figures 1 and 2. Side plates 142 and 143 which are adapted to be disposed in the same relative positions as side plates 123 and 12e discussed in conjunction with the embodiment disclosed in Figures 5 and 5, are provided with central laterally outwardly extending offset portions 14e and 145, respectively, delining margins or marginal flanges 146 and 147 which are adapted to overlap the body portion of leaf 1=l1 adjacent the edges thereof defining the opening or aperture in which the wheel mount is adapted to be interposed. It will be readily apparent that as in the case of the embodiment disclosed in Figures 5 and 5, side plates 142 and 143 will be effective to provide a seal to prevent admission of drafts into the enclosure along the meeting edges of the supporting frame and the edges of the leaf dening the opening in which such supporting frame is disposed.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a substantial, durable, and rugged wheel mount for a relatively heavy door leaf wherein the caster wheel frame pintle is supported for antifrictional swiveling movement; weather stripping means is provided for the space between the wheel frame and the supporting frame, and between the side ends of the wheel and the adjacent edges of the opening in the leaf in which the mount is positioned; dust and dirt are excluded by eX- tending the outer wheel frame side downwardly in close proximity to the threshold; and novel lock means is provided for control from the inner side of the door to effectively restrain rota-tion of the caster wheel whereby accidental or unauthorized opening oi the door from the outer side thereof is prevented.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, certain changes may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention or the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters ?atent iszl. The combination with a mounting and a caster for a door leaf, said caster including a frame spaced from said mounting and having a pintle swiveled in and adjustably connected with said mounting whereby the position of said frame may be varied vertically with respect to said mounting, of slidable weather stripping means supported by said frame and ilanking said mounting eective to seal the space between said frame and mounting in all adjusted positions when said frame is disposed substantially in the plane of said leaf, said frame being free to swing out of said leaf independently of said weather stripping means.

2. The combination with a mounting and a caster for a door leaf, said caster including a frame spaced from said mounting and having a pintle swiveled in and adjustably connected with said mounting whereby the position of said frame may be varied vertically with respect to said mounting, of weather stripping means adapted to gravitate to operative position between said mounting and frame to seal the space therebetween and including cooperating adapted to elevate said weather stripping means translationally vertically upon displacement of said frame out of the plane of said mounting and leaf, said cooperating means being adapted to seal the cooperating surfaces of said weather stripping means and frame.

ELLIS J. G. PHILLIPS. 

